Rev 11:7-8 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 11:7-8: 11:7-8 When the witnesses finish their testimony , the scene changes dramatically. The beast (cp. 13:1 ) is introduced for the first time; it is associated with the bottomless pit . Like all enemies of God, the beast engages in war against God’s witnesses, and he kills them.

a11:7-8►

b13:1►

c11:8►

d16:19►

e17:18►

f18:10►

g16►

h18-19►

i21►

j17:5►

k9►

lActs 9:5►

‏ Revelation of John 11:7-8

Summary for Rev 11:7-8: 11:7-8 ^a When the witnesses finish their testimony, the scene changes dramatically. The beast (cp. 13:1 ^b) is introduced for the first time; it is associated with the bottomless pit. Like all enemies of God, the beast engages in war against God’s witnesses, and he kills them.
11:8 ^c their bodies will lie in the main street: Evil is so vindictive that it even desecrates the dead.

• Jerusalem (literally the great city): The designation “the great city” would have immediately suggested Rome to early readers (16:19 ^d; 17:18 ^e; 18:10 ^f, 16 ^g, 18-19 ^h, 21 ⁱ). But John also describes it as the city where their Lord was crucified as well as Sodom and Egypt—all places that were hostile to God and his people (see also 17:5 ^j, 9 ^k).

• where their Lord was crucified: There is a direct connection between how the Lord was treated by evil forces and the experience of persecuted Christians (see Acts 9:5 ^l).